UPDATE: Highway 12 Re-Opened After Fatal Head-On Crash
LODI (CBS13) – Highway 12 in Lodi was closed for nearly seven hours on Thursday after a fatal head-on collision between a semi-truck and a delivery truck early Thursday morning.
CHP Officer Rich Wetzel confirmed that the driver of the flatbed truck died in the crash, which happened at about 6 a.m. In all five vehicles were involved in the crash, sending chunks of metal, glass, tires, bumpers and even heavy-duty construction equipment all over the highway.
Witnesses reported the delivery truck driver was weaving in and out of his lane before slamming into the semi.
"Unforntuatley it's all to common. It's caused by a driver doing something wrong," CHP Officer Angel Arceo said.
It's not clear whether the driver was suffering from some type of medical emergency, was under the influence or was just severely fatigued.
"If you're falling asleep, drowsy drivers are as dangerous as DUI drivers," Arceo said. "Pull over. Don't take a chance."
Highway 12 was closed from the Rio Vista Bridge in Rio Vista to the juntion of Interstate 5 until just before 2 p.m.
The driver of the semi was taken to Lodi Memorial for minor injuries. The name of the deceased driver was not released.
